In a recent chat with American Way, the veteran bandmates dished the dirt on exactly what goes on when Aerosmith's on tour. Okay, it wasn't exactly their most salacious backstage secrets, but they did single out one of their favorite stops and reveal where they hang out there when they're not playing to a packed house. So next time you're in Tokyo, spike up your hair, squeeze into some black leather, and see the city like a real rock star.
Steven Tyler, the rubber-lipped, limber-limbed lead singer of the supergroup Aerosmith, is spending a leisurely Sunday afternoon exploring Tokyo's scenic Yoyogi Park and its plentiful picnickers and koi-filled ponds. The scene sounds tranquil, but Yoyogi Park is also famous for the hopeful local performers, including the requisite Elvis impersonators, who often show up there to perform on makeshift stages. Given the crowd, it's not long before Tyler is recognized, first by one wannabe rocker, then by hundreds. "I was mobbed. Terrible mobbed," recalls Tyler, who had to make like the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night to escape the horde.

That surreal encounter is a testament to the venerable Boston-based band's immense success in Japan. For some 3 dec­ades, Aerosmith has rocked the world, selling more than 100 million albums, winning every imaginable award, and touring so incessantly that the members figure they've crossed the globe more than 36 times. But Japan, especially Tokyo, where they routinely sell out the city's biggest stadiums, remains one of their strong­est fan bases. And now, after recently releasing their 25th album, Honkin' on Bobo, which continues to receive strong reviews, Tyler and fellow bandmate Joe Perry are ready to rock you through Tokyo, the city where Aerosmith reigns supreme.

Where do you like to stay in town?